Wild, beautiful and diverse… the North York Moors National Park boasts some of Yorkshire’s most beautiful locations.
When most people think of the North York Moors they think of purple heather-clad expanses across the flat tops of the moorland, as rich in wildlife as they are in colour when in bloom, and it’s easy to see why. From many vantage points the purple hue stretches as far as the eye can see – vibrant and particularly beautiful when combined with a bright blue sky. But as well as its distinctive heather moorland the North York Moors National Park also boasts beautiful woodland, striking coastline, picturesque towns and villages and so much more.
Perhaps surprisingly, woodland covers a whopping 22% of the North York Moors National Park, including ancient woodlands, broadleaved woodlands and plantation woodland (planted during the 20th century). These environments provide vital habitats for wildlife.
Yorkshire’s Heritage Coast is a protected area, and for good reason. Formed around 180 million years ago during the Jurassic period, the cliffs and shore of the Yorkshire coast are rich in geological treasures, including fossils of plants and animals, and even dinosaur footprints.